Kingfishr review: Gig of the summer at the Marquee as Cork fans raise the roof with 'Killeagh' singalong
Eddie Keogh playing the opening number as Kingfishr took to the stage at Live at the Marquee in Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan
On the first of two sold-out nights, fans flocked to see Kingfishr at Live at the Marquee on Wednesday evening.
With their viral hit 'Killeagh' becoming the unofficial anthem of Cork GAA fans right now, it felt like both the gig of the summer in the Rebel County and a pre-All-Ireland Hurling Final celebration.
In fact, given the hype and hysteria, it’s hard to believe the band has yet to release a debut album.
Despite the downpours, fans dressed for a summer night with bare, self-tanned limbs protected by breezy rain ponchos.
Ahead of the concert, the Marina Market was thronged with groups of young fans fuelling up on food before a night of music, with a long queue of teenage gig-goers making their way into the venue through security and past a small Garda presence for the sold-out event.
Support act Overpass, a Birmingham band, warmed up the crowd before Kingfishr singer Eddie Keogh and bandmates Eoghan ‘McGoo’ McGrath and Eoin ‘Fitz’ Fitzgibbon arrived on stage at 9pm to deafening screams.
They launched into 'I Cried, I Wept', delighting the packed crowd before their next hit, 'The Saviour' followed by 'Shadow.'
“Sláinte!” Keogh said to the crowd early on, raising a pint in a toast before singing 'Leave.'
'Shot in the Dark' saw them speak about their roots before entering the standing area to sing, hoisted above the shoulders of the crowd.
“Lads, how have we done this, like?” Keogh said.
“We started this band three years and a month ago, absolutely fucking mental. We were studying in UL. I’ll give it to himself, Mr Cork, give it up for Fitz,” who added: "Nights like this never happen for people like us so thank you so much."
Indie folk group Kingfishr, born on a dairy farm in Co Limerick in 2022, have a strong Cork link: In his youth, bassist Fitzgibbon played for Killeagh GAA club and was asked by a current player to write an anthem in honour of the team.
That small local song has since found a huge global audience and it was one of the most cheered tunes during their Marquee set, the Cork audience clearly happy to cheer on a local song.
“There’s some lad in Killeagh that made us write this song. We didn’t know anyone cared about songs about hurling but ye do,” Keogh said ahead of performing the track.
"The song is obviously about hurling, and you can talk for forever about that, but I think as we travelled around and as we played it more and more it’s also about community and it’s about being part of something that’s bigger than yourself and finding something to call your own.
"I’m so proud to be part of that.”
He also quipped: “In fairness, I do hope ye win someday.”
So popular was 'Killeagh' the band played it again as an encore at the end of the night.
'Diamonds & Roses' from their upcoming album also had the room singing along to a relatively recent release.
Phones were held on high to capture a clear crowd favourite.
Their early breakthrough song 'Flowers-Fire' was another sure-fire hit with the crowd, who sang along with every word.
• Kingfishr’s sold-out Cork gigs come as the band confirmed their debut album, , will be released on August 22, with a UK and European tour following in November.
• Live at the Marquee continues on Thursday night with Amble’s sold out gig while Kingfishr return for their second sold-out night on July 24.
